Archive for December 2014

EVERYONE LIKES A WINNER and there are always people ready to cheer for a good loser. But whoever heard a song of praise for the man who came in second?

So this is the praise of the almost-winner the nearly champion, the next-to-the-biggest, the second best. This is the song of Mister Two.

You hear unflattering names for Mister Two. “Also-Ran”, they call him and “Runner-Up”. Names that make you think of a fellow who couldn’t quite make it.

Don’t let that fool you.

Ask the winner of any race how good a man is Mister Two. He’ll tell you it’s Mister Two who made him run so fast; Mister Two pressing hard at his heels, threatening always to overtake and pass him.

Ask the salesman who won the contest what kept him plugging after hours, looking for the extra order. Ask the directors of the giant corporation why they kept changing their product, seeking the new improvement, the added advantage.

What drives them? What keeps them hopping? It’s the salesman with nearly as many orders. It’s the company with the product almost as good.

It’s Mister Two.

In this country, we’re proud of the quality of our champions. Our big men come very big. Our fast men run very fast. Our skilled athletes are very skilled. Our wise men are the wisest and our great men are the greatest that a country could hope to be blessed with. And why is that?

Couldn’t it be because hot on the heals of every champion runs a Mister Two? Couldn’t it be because great Mister Two’s grow naturally in a land where the race is always open and everybody can run?

So this is for your Mister Two. This is your song. This is for all the days you tried for first and came in second. It’s for the nights when you wonder if you ought to go on trying, since nobody seems to notice.

We notice, Mister Two. We know the score. Winner or not, you’re a natural champion. There couldn’t be a race without you, Mister Two.

— Ohio High School Athlete

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The important thing in life is not what belongs to us, but what we belong to.

You wouldn’t worry about what others think of you if you could know how seldom they do.

Team effort is determined by individual responsibility.

Physical strength is measured by what one can carry; spiritual by what one can bear.

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

For a .pdf file of this original Coach Bacevich Handout, click here: Handout #213: He Comes in Second. Coach Bacevich gave binders of his motivational handouts to thousands of people. You should print this original Coach Bacevich Handout together with the others in each weekly post and start your binder of these motivational handouts. Then read and browse the material as you desire. Soon you will have a treasure of information at your fingertips whenever you need a little inspiration and motivation from the Coach as you pursue your aspirations!

Many of Coach Bacevich’s Handouts were written for his football players as the audience. This is an example of good information written for his football players but so very applicable in all of life, sports and otherwise. When you see the phrase “football player” or “athlete”, substitute that phrase with whatever fits your situation, such as Employee, Team Member, Hockey Player, Basketball Player, etc.

LEADERSHIP – Shows the way and sets a good example (on and off the field). Respected by team members. Mixes well. Others follow his example and take his advice. Takes a sincere interest in his teammates.

TAKE–CHARGE–GUY – Will take over when things go wrong. Under pressure, he does something about the problem. Often a hero. Has tremendous pride.

HARDWORKER – One of the first to practice – the last to leave. Does extra work. Never misses practice or meetings. Follows instructions. Is dedicated.

For a .pdf file of this original Coach Bacevich Handout, click here: Handout #212: The Psychological Profile of a Champion. Coach Bacevich gave binders of his motivational handouts to thousands of people. You should print this original Coach Bacevich Handout together with the others in each weekly post and start your binder of these motivational handouts. Then read and browse the material as you desire. Soon you will have a treasure of information at your fingertips whenever you need a little inspiration and motivation from the Coach as you pursue your aspirations!

Many of Coach Bacevich’s Handouts were written for his football players as the audience. This is an example of good information written for his football players but so very applicable in all of life, sports and otherwise. When you see the phrase “football player” or “athlete”, substitute that phrase with whatever fits your situation, such as Employee, Team Member, Hockey Player, Basketball Player, etc.

1. BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION. (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual). Good condition means endurance. Endurance is the ability to carry on when others are being carried off. To insure your good condition, TrainingRulesare necessary.

2. BEST POSSIBLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GAME. Be punctual for every meeting and practice. Read/study all football handouts. Be eager to learn. Pay attention to all instructions. Take a sincere, deep interest in all practice activities, meetings, film breakdowns, and games.

3. ALL OUT 100% EFFORT ON/OFF THE FIELD: GAMES, PRACTICES, SCHOOL, HOME, COMMUNITY. Hustle, Hustle, all the time. You cannot put out in the game without having put out in the practices.

4. BURNING DESIRE TO EXCEL. This is the trademark of every great athlete and team. This is the greatest single difference between the CHAMPION and the ALSO RANS.

5. DEDICATED AND DETERMINATION. Follow the slogan: “It may be difficult, but I’ll do it.” Strive with rugged determination and complete dedication to become the best player and ours, the best team.

6. AGGRESSIVENESS. Football is a contact game. You must be “Hard-Nosed” aggressive. You must take the fight to your opponent. This is the quality that separates the “men” from the “boys”.

7. TEAM PLAY. Always think in terms of team success. Be genuinely happy to see the ball go into the opponent’s end zone, regardless in whose arms it is in. Always think/act in terms of “We” instead of “I”.

8. LOYALTY. Without loyalty, a man is but an empty shell. This is your school, your team. Be good to your family, your school, your coaches and your teammates, and you will be good to yourself.

9. ACADEMIC AVERAGE. Maintain the highest possible scholastic average. REMEMBER – your main purpose in school is to get the best possible education. Your studies come first.

10. A CHRISTIAN GENTLEMEN. Maintain the highest type of sportsmanship at all times. Be especially considerate of others, both on and off the field. Be a leader by personal example.

For a .pdf file of this original Coach Bacevich Handout, click here: Handout #211: What the school-coaches-teammates have a Right to Expect From You. Coach Bacevich gave binders of his motivational handouts to thousands of people. You should print this original Coach Bacevich Handout together with the others in each weekly post and start your binder of these motivational handouts. Then read and browse the material as you desire. Soon you will have a treasure of information at your fingertips whenever you need a little inspiration and motivation from the Coach as you pursue your aspirations!

Many of Coach Bacevich’s Handouts were written for his football players as the audience. This is an example of good information written for his football players but so very applicable in all of life, sports and otherwise. When you see the phrase “football player” or “athlete”, substitute that phrase with whatever fits your situation, such as Employee, Team Member, Hockey Player, Basketball Player, etc.